01/11/19- *Quinnen Williams, rSo, Alabama, 6-3, 295Four Alabama players are skipping their final seasons to enter the NFL draft, including All-America left tackle Jonah Williams and Outland Trophy-winning defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. Those projected first-rounders announced their intentions on Friday, along with versatile tailback Josh Jacobs and tight end Irv Smith Jr. Jonah Williams and Quinnen Williams are unanimous All-Americans rated as potential Top 10 picks.

Quinnen Williams is a third-year sophomore who won the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman on either side of the ball. The 6-foot-4, 295-pounder had a breakout season in his first season as starter, leading the team with 17 tackles for loss and ranking third with 66 tackles. "I dreamed of this day almost every day when I was a little kid when I was playing little league football in Birmingham," he said. "Just to see I made it become a reality, like I get a chance to enter the draft. Most people don't get a chance from where I'm from. "Most people have the athletic ability or the ability to do it, but can't get past different distractions and stuff. To see I defeated all the odds and the negativity and just everything in general, I defeated it all. It made me emotional kind of to see that I've came from a long way, seen a lot of stuff when I was young." Quinnen Williams said he spent considerable time talking on the phone about the decision to Saban, who he called "like the Godfather of early leaving. - AP College Football

01/09/19- *Dexter Lawrence, Jr, Clemson, 6-3, 350Suspended Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is headed to the NFL. Lawrence is the 350-pound, 6-foot-4 lineman who missed the Tigers' College Football Playoff games after he and two teammates tested positive for the banned substance ostarine. Lawrence attended both games and celebrated with teammates Monday night after a 44-16 victory over Alabama in the national championship game. Lawrence announced his decision on Twitter Wednesday. He was a three-year starter and is considered a first-round NFL pick in next spring's draft. He is the third Clemson starter on defense to give up his eligibility to go pro. Earlier, cornerback Trayvon Mullen and linebacker Tre Lamar said they would enter the NFL draft. Mullen was the defensive MVP of the championship game. - AP College Football

12/21/18- Aubrey Solomon, rSo, Tennessee, 6-2, 287Defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon says he's transferring from Michigan to Tennessee. Solomon tweeted Friday that he's going to Tennessee. Volunteers coach Jeremy Pruitt said in a statement that "he is a great addition to our university and our football program." The former five-star recruit from Leesburg, Georgia, played five games and made six tackles during an injury-riddled 2018 season. Solomon, who is 6-foot-3 and 297 pounds, played 13 games and had 18 tackles as a freshman in 2017. He was the nation's No. 23 overall prospect in his high school class according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports. Solomon isn't a graduate transfer and would have to sit out the 2019 season unless he gets a waiver from the NCAA. - AP College Football

12/05/18- Christian Wilkins, Sr, Clemson, 6-3, 3152018 William V. Campbell Trophy Award Winner: Clemson star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins won the William V. Campbell Trophy on Tuesday night, an award honoring college football's top scholar-athlete. Wilkins earned a degree in communications last year, becoming the first scholarship football player from Clemson to graduate in 2½ years. He is currently pursuing a graduate degree in athletic leadership. He received an $18,000 in postgraduate scholarship by being one of 13 finalists and an additional $7,000 in scholarship money for winning the Campbell Trophy.

11/30/18- *Ed Oliver, Jr, Houston, 6-2, 292DT Ed Oliver has played his final college game. Oliver announced via social media on Friday that he planned to sit out Houston's bowl game in order to concentrate on his preparations for the 2019 NFL Draft. Oliver, the Outland Trophy winner in 2017 as the nation's top interior lineman, endured an injury-plagued junior season with the Cougars. In his most recent mock draft published Nov. 11, Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com projected Oliver to be the third overall pick in the draft.

11/27/18- Ricky Walker, rSr, Virginia Tech, 6-2, 300DT Ricky Walker, the only senior starter on defense, is finishing with a flourish. He was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against Virginia -- seven tackles, two for loss, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble. He has 43 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, and projects as a late-round pick.

11/27/18- Ricky Walker, rSr, Virginia Tech, 6-2, 300NOV 26 ACC DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: Ricky Walker, Virginia Tech, Sr., DT; Hampton, Va.,...Walker had seven tackles, including two for loss, one QB hurry and one forced fumble in Virginia Tech's 34-31 overtime victory over Virginia on Friday night ... Walker's seven stops ranked second on the team ... With UVA driving early in the second quarter, Walker forced a fumble at Tech's own 12-yard line that was recovered by LB Dax Hollifield ... Assisted on a tackle for loss at the Hokies' 11-yard line late in the fourth quarter that helped hold UVA to a field goal later in the drive. - ACC Football

11/24/18- *Ed Oliver, Jr, Houston, 6-2, 292DT Ed Oliver's return from a knee injury did not last long. Oliver, who has been sidelined for the previous four games, aggravated the knee injury in the first half of Friday's 52-31 loss to Memphis and did not return. The reigning Outland Trophy winner is expected to miss two to three weeks, Cougars coach Major Applewhite said Friday night. Such a timetable would allow Oliver to return to play in a bowl game, but there has been speculation throughout his injury that he may elect to shut it down for the season. However, Applewhite and Oliver each indicated that the junior standout would be available to play in a bowl game if he was healthy.

11/21/18- Jay-Tee Tiuli, Sr, Eastern Washington, 6-3, 3202018 BIG SKY CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jay-Tee Tiuli, Eastern Washington,...Eastern Washington defensive tackle Jay-Tee Tiuli was named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year. Tiuli has 29 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss of 36 yards, 4.0 sacks for a loss of 30 yards, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. The Eagles earned a share of the league title and have advanced to the FCS Playoffs for the 13th time in school history. Tiuli is the first Eastern Washington player to earn DPOTY honors since J.C. Sherritt in 2010. - Big Sky Football

11/20/18- *Ed Oliver, Jr, Houston, 6-2, 292DT Ed Oliver has missed the past four games with a knee injury, but ESPN reported that the reigning Outland Trophy winner is expected to return for Friday's game against Memphis. Officially, Oliver remains day-to-day, according to the Cougars' football program, and there has been speculation that Oliver would sit out the rest of his college football season as he prepares for the NFL Draft. In his most recent mock draft published Nov. 11, Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com projected Oliver to be the third overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

11/20/18- Ricky Walker, rSr, Virginia Tech, 6-2, 300DT Ricky Walker has 36 tackles this season, including 7.5 for loss, as the only senior starter on defense. Walker made 41 tackles, including 12.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks, as a junior when he had more help. Walker is likely a late-round prospect. "The day he walked in the door, I knew he was going to be a special player and a special person," said defensive coordinator Bud Foster. "He's proven that since he's been here."

11/19/18- Maake Muti, rSr, Azusa Pacific, 6-0, 2802018 GREAT NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: Ma'ake Muti, Azusa Pacific,...Muti played in all 11 regular season games and finished with 55 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks and a fumble recovery. Muti was part of an APU defensive line that enters the Division II Playoffs ranked third nationally with 3.27 sacks per game. - Great Northwest Athletic Conference Football

11/16/18- *Ed Oliver, Jr, Houston, 6-2, 292DT Ed Oliver engaged in a heated shouting match with Houston coach Major Applewhite just before halftime of Thursday night's game against Tulane. Oliver, considered a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, was enraged and had to be restrained after Applewhite after the coach told him to remove his cold-weather coat. The reigning Outland Trophy winner was inactive due to a knee injury and, per a team rule, only uniformed players are allowed to wear coats on the sideline. Oliver, who sat out his fourth consecutive game, did not join the team on the sideline in the second half of the 48-17 win over Tulane and was unavailable for comment after the contest.

11/14/18- *Quinnen Williams, rSo, Alabama, 6-3, 295Alabama nose tackle Quinnen Williams, Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen and LSU safety Grant Delpit give the Southeastern Conference three of the five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy given to the nation's top defensive player. The other finalists announced Wednesday were Michigan linebacker Devin Bush and Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. The Nagurski Trophy is chosen by the Football Writers Association of America. The winner will be announced Dec. 3 at the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Williams has 14 tackles for loss, including five sacks, for No. 1 Alabama. Allen leads the SEC with 15½ tackles for loss. Delpit leads LSU in interceptions (five) and tackles for loss (9½). Bush is the leading tackle for the top defense in the country. Wilkins has 10.5 tackles for loss, including three sacks. - AP College Football

11/14/18- *Quinnen Williams, rSo, Alabama, 6-3, 295The College Football Playoff rankings held steady at the top, with Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Michigan an unchanged first four from last week. The third rankings of the season were drama-free Tuesday night after every top-10 team won last weekend. In fact, the entire top 10 stayed the same, the first time that has happened in the five seasons since the CFP was born. With three weekends left until the final selections are made on Dec. 2, Georgia was fifth and Oklahoma was sixth. LSU, Washington State, West Virginia and Ohio State rounded out the top 10. UCF moved up one spot to No. 11. - AP College Football

11/14/18- Joseph Broadnax Jr., rSr, Texas Christian, 5-11, 294TCU starting senior defensive tackle Joseph Broadnax isn't expected to play again because of an undisclosed medical condition initially discovered during a preseason screening. Coach Gary Patterson said Tuesday that he couldn't elaborate but that an MRI during the summer found something in the early stages that was OK then. But the 6-foot, 294-pound Broadnax didn't play Saturday at West Virginia after showing signs related to the condition, including weakness in his arm. "Now you've got to be smart and you've got to take care of it," Patterson said. The screening last summer was part of a study TCU's football program is involved with to assist in the prevention and treatment of concussions. Broadnax's condition isn't concussion-related, but Patterson said the player is going "to have an opportunity to live a lot longer because they caught it." The coach said it might have gone undetected for 10 to 20 years otherwise, and that there is medicine that can help. - AP College Football

11/12/18- Boss Tagaloa, Jr, UCLA, 6-2, 305C Boss Tagaloa's return to the lineup following a three-game suspension in September helped ignite UCLA's rushing output. The experiment that moved Tagaloa from the defensive line to center proved to be a boost for a Bruins offense, which has gotten more push up front.

11/12/18- *Quinnen Williams, rSo, Alabama, 6-3, 295NOV 12 SEC DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama,...Williams led the Crimson Tide in production points in a 24-0 shutout win over No. 16 Mississippi State to share Alabama Defensive Player of the Week honors...Tied for the team lead with six total tackles, including four solo stops...Recorded a 2.0 tackles for loss (-9 yards) and one sack for a loss of five yards...Helped limit the Bulldogs to just 44 rushing yards as the Tide has surrendered just 157 yards on the ground in the last four games...State managed just 169 total yards while punting eight times and turning it over on downs twice. - SEC Football

11/12/18- Luc Bequette, rJr, California, 6-1, 300NOV 12 PAC-12 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Luc Bequette, Jr., DE, California (Little Rock, AR),...Had career highs of eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss (-20 yards) and 2.0 sacks (-19 yards), and forced the second fumble of his career to lead the Golden Bears to a 15-14 victory at USC. It snapped a 14-game losing skid to the Trojans...Bequette and the Cal defense pitched a second-half shutout to help the Bears overcome a 14-0 halftime deficit...The Cal defense has now allowed opponents only 12.5 points per game over the past four contests with three victories during the stretch. Also nominated: Jordan Fox, OLB, STAN; Chase Hansen, LB, UTAH; Willie Taylor III, LB, WSU. - Pac-12 Football

11/12/18- Christian Wilkins, Sr, Clemson, 6-3, 315NOV 12 ACC DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: Christian Wilkins, Clemson, Gr., DT; Springfield, Mass.,...Wilkins returned to his home state and played a key role as No. 2 Clemson nailed down its fourth straight ACC Atlantic Division title with Saturday night's 27-7 win at No. 17 Boston College ... Wilkins posted five tackles, including one for loss, as part of a defensive line that limited Boston College to nine rushing yards ... Also played on offense, appearing at running back on a play-action touchdown pass to tight end Milan Richard. - ACC Football

11/12/18- Antione Barker, rJr, Troy, 6-2, 265NOV 12 SUN BELT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Antione Barker, Troy, Jr., DE, Pensacola, Fla.,...Troy's defense was dominant against Georgia Southern's high-powered option attack and Antione Barker was a big reason why. In the Trojan's 35-21 win over the Eagles, he recorded a career-best three tackles for loss and two sacks as Troy limited GS to just 101 rushing yards and 291 total yards. Troy held Georgia Southern to just 161 yards over the final three quarters of the game. - Sun Belt Football

11/12/18- Robert Windsor, rJr, Penn State, 6-3, 295NOV 12 BIG TEN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Robert Windsor, Penn State, Jr., DT, Fond Du Lac, Wis./Fond Du Lac,...Established a career best with two sacks in Penn State's win against Wisconsin...Tied a career high with six total tackles, including five solo stops...Anchored a defense that recorded five sacks and held Wisconsin to 12 first downs...Receives his first career Defensive Player of the Week honor...Last Penn State Defensive Player of the Week: Yetur Gross-Matos (Oct. 29, 2018). - Big Ten Football

11/12/18- Justin Brandon, Sr, Buffalo, 6-0, 275NOV 12 MAC EAST DIVISION Defensive Player of the Week: Buffalo DT Justin Brandon,...Buffalo senior defensive tackle Justin Brandon (Indianapolis, Ind.) had a pair of sacks in a 48-14 win over Kent State on Tuesday, Nov. 6. The Bulls senior had three tackles and two sacks and helped spearhead a defense that held Kent State to just 39 total yards in the first half. - MAC Football